These comments are responses
to the statements listed below,
which were generated in regard to the Brian LindsleyInterview of 10-03-2014.

Attend to needs of
underqualified adults in quest to fill workforce skills gap

OVERVIEW

According to Bryan Lindsley, philanthropic collaborative MSPWin
focuses on changing the workforce development system, with the goal of
dramatically increasing the number of adults, especially those of
color, aged 18 to 64, earning family-sustaining wages. Lindsley
believes Minnesota will not be able to close the approaching skills
gap, forecast to start in 2020, without focusing on adults already in
or capable of being in the labor force. He emphasizes that this group
should also include the unemployed and those not participating in the
labor force, who often are not counted when we're looking at whether
we will have enough skilled workers.

Concentrating on those adults will have the greatest impact on the
size and quality of the state's workforce, he notes, since 73 percent
of the people in Minnesota's workforce today will still be working in
2030. Attention to this demographic is particularly important because
about half of our current workforce has no postsecondary credential or
industry certification, which is increasingly key to employability.

For Minnesota to solve the state's human-capital problem, Lindsley
suggests that the following goals, all focused on the adult
population, must be met: (1) Many more postsecondary students
completing remedial classes, accumulating credits and graduating with
a degree, a diploma or a certificate; (2) More adults completing
skills training that leads to family-sustaining wages through programs
teaching basic and occupational skills while offering support
services; and (3) Developing outcome reporting and evaluation to allow
evidence-based decision-making to determine which components of
various workforce programs are effective.

Response Summary:Average
response ratings shown below are simply the mean of all readersí
zero-to-ten responses to the ideas proposed and should not be
considered an accurate reflection of a scientifically structured poll.

To assist the
Civic Caucus in planning upcoming interviews, readers rated these
statements about the topic on a scale of 0 (strongly disagree) to 5
(neutral) to 10 (strongly agree):

2. Further study
warranted. (7.6
average response) It would be
helpful to schedule additional interviews on this topic.

Readers rated
the following points discussed during the meeting on a scale of 0
(strongly disagree) to 5 (neutral) to 10 (strongly agree):

3. Upgrade adult
job skills. (9.1
average response) Minnesota cannot
maintain a highly regarded, skilled workforce unless it dramatically
upgrades the job skills of its adult population that is currently
unemployed or underemployed.

4. Adult workers
now will be vital in 2030. (8.3
average response) The state cannot
afford to neglect people already of working age today because they
will be the vast majority of Minnesotans still working in 2030.

5. Past repute
fosters inaction. (4.9
average response) The state's
historic reputation for a high-quality workforce is producing an
inhibiting complacency at the very time major action is needed.

6. Clear
strategies lacking. (7.5
average response) While exemplary
efforts are under way, the state lacks clear strategies to produce
enough workers with an essential combination of basic skills education
and occupational training.

7. Low grad rates
show inefficiency. (6.7
average response) Low graduation
rates in two-year community and technical colleges show that those
institutionsí existing efforts to produce an adequately trained work
force are grossly inefficient.

8. Pay colleges
for achieving outcomes. (4.8
average response) The state should
start paying its colleges based on outcomes, such as studentsí
successfully completing education and training within prescribed
timeframes.

Response
Distribution:

Strongly
disagree

Moderately
disagree

Neutral

Moderately
agree

Strongly agree

Total
Responses

1. Topic is of
value.

14%

0%

14%

43%

29%

7

2. Further
study warranted.

0%

0%

29%

43%

29%

7

3. Upgrade
adult job skills.

0%

0%

0%

43%

57%

7

4. Adult
workers now will be vital in 2030.

14%

0%

0%

14%

71%

7

5. Past repute
fosters inaction.

29%

0%

29%

29%

14%

7

6. Clear
strategies lacking.

0%

14%

0%

57%

29%

7

7. Low grad
rates show inefficiency.

14%

0%

14%

57%

14%

7

8. Pay
colleges for achieving outcomes.

29%

14%

14%

29%

14%

7

Individual
Responses:

Scott Halstead (10) (10) (10) (10) (10) (10) (10) (0)

3. Upgrade adult
job skills.
All employers and employees should be participating in continuing
education throughout their employment years so they are prepared for
the next step and qualified for an equivalent position in the event of
adverse conditions.

8. Pay colleges
for achieving outcomes.
Perhaps the state should provide financial relief for students
successfully completing education/training that results in successful
employment.

Vici
Oshiro (10) (5) (10) (10) (5) (7.5) (7.5) (2.5)

Don
Anderson (5) (5) (7.5) (10) (5) (7.5) (7.5) (5

David Dillon (0) (10) (10) (0) (0) (10) (0) (10)

1. Topic is of
value.
The subject is obviously important. The bureaucratic approach to all
of this provides little valuable information and insight. It starts
with a projection of an "expected" qualified worker shortage by 2020.
Maybe a start would be to admit (without shame) that we have little
ability to see beyond the next year or two and focus on becoming
nimble.

4. Adult workers
now will be vital in 2030.
The focus on the needs out into the long term, like 2030 shows how the
thinking is bureaucratic and input-focused rather than being nimble
and responsive. I don't buy the argument that pushing more,
better-trained folks out into the workforce will improve the economy,
employment, Minnesota's competitiveness or even happiness on the part
of Minnesotans. I'm not sure what exactly they are arguing what will
be needed way out into the future. I'd be happy if they have a good
plan for 2015 and 1016 and were ready to change as needed.

6. Clear
strategies lacking.
I am, of course, assuming what is really meant here is a "good"
strategy. I do hope the standard is not so low as just to be clear.
The soviets always had a "clear" five-year strategy for training in
their industrial policy.

7. Low grad rates
show inefficiency.
I'm not buying this at all. Maybe students are getting what they need
and dropping out once that is achieved or other life priorities
intervene. So much of this sounds like the education bureaucracy
plowing ground for a funding argument to come.

8. Pay colleges
for achieving outcomes.
But let's talk about the outcomes a lot more. Getting a document from
the provider? How about getting a great (and real) rating from their
customers. How many clients are so thrilled with the help they got
that they will give back? How about the business customers that are
helped? Will they contribute and rate the success?

Ken
Peterson (7.5) (7.5) (7.5) (10) (0) (2.5) (5) (0)

8. Pay colleges
for achieving outcomes.
First, [the] last point would encourage schools to drop standards and
pass everybody. Second, general, point: Minnesota's work force
training system certainly needs improvement, especially with people of
color, but overall it has worked well which is one reason why
Minnesota's economy is doing as well as it is.

Chuck Lutz (8) (8) (9) (8) (7) (7) (9) (9)

Wayne Jennings (8) (8) (10) (10) (7) (8) (8) (7)

An important
topic but I hope itís not another study to death without actions.
Surely we know how to address these issues from research and
successful practice to not need $10 million a year for study. An
outcomes approach seems a way for greater accountability.

The Civic Caucusis a non-partisan,
tax-exempt educational organization. The Interview Group
includes persons of varying political persuasions,
reflecting years of leadership in politics and
business. Click here to see a short personal background of each.